Floretta Dukes McKenzie

Floretta Dukes McKenzie (August 19, 1935 – March 23, 2015) was an American educator and civic leader. She served as the Deputy Superindentent of District of Columbia Public Schools and as the Assistant Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools until she was elected as Superintendent of the District of Columbia Public Schools and as Chief State School Officer of the District of Columbia. In 1992, McKenzie became the first African-American elected board member of the Marriott Corporation and was the first woman to serve on the board who was not a member of the Marriott family.

Early life and education McKenzie was born in Lakeland, Florida on August 19, 1935, to Martin W. Dukes, Sr. and Ruth jeter Dukes. Her family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1951, where she graduated from Dunbar High School in 1952.